Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) (18 page)

Kicking and biting I fought against the
person holding me. Taylor was unconscious on the
floor there was no way to get help. The person drug
me into the men’s restroom shoving me into the
room I heard them lock the door. Spinning around I
came face to face with Harper.

"Har-"
He clamped his hand over my mouth again
and gave me a look meaning keep my voice down.
"Don't scream. I just want to talk."

I glared at him trying to pull myself out of
his grip. He released me and I stumbled backwards
my back hitting the opposite wall I cringed as my
tattoo stung slightly. He quickly looked under the
stalls but no one was in here but us.

"You just punched one of my best friends
and you just want to talk. What is it with pig
headed fucking boys and-" Harper advanced
toward me again as my voice rose. I clamped my
lips shut glaring at him. I didn't want him near me.

"I'm sorry about that. I had to act quick to
talk to you. You're never alone."
"For reasons like this," I snarled.

"I know you hate me. You should. I've been
a dick. I have been following you all day trying to
get you alone. This was my only option," he
scowled.

"You better hope she is ok. I cannot even
begin to tell you the wrath Jake and Oliver bring
upon you."

"Just hear me out," he told me running his
hands through his hair.

That's when I noticed his nose. It had
clearly been broken. My eyes widened when I took
in the rest of him. He had been beaten, horribly.
The now blackened bruises fading but still visible.

"What happened to you?" I wondered
aloud.

Catching myself, I pursed my lips. Taylor
was knocked out in the hallway Harper was the last
person I should be worrying about.

"It doesn't matter. Ever, you need to hear
me out. Let what I'm about to tell you sink in to
that thick little head of yours," he told me
seriously.

Crossing my arms defiantly, I stared him
down.
"Stay away from Oliver."
"Really?" I scoffed sarcastically.

"Look you crazy stubborn little girl," he
told me raising his voice now, "If you don't things
are going to be bad...again. Do you want that? I
know what my father is doing. He's going to use
you against, Oliver. Just like Jason did."

"Why should I believe you?" I demanded
narrowing my eyes on him. Why was he telling
me? He had to have some motive.

"Stay away from Oliver. Break all ties. If
you want him to live then you must. My father
wants Oliver back at his side. Oliver is the "son"
Weasley has always wanted. I know Oliver. He'll
turn my father down and my father will not have
that. No one turns him down. He won't just go after
Oliver he'll go after you. Right now, you are his
main target. He knows you are Oliver's only
weakness. Stay away from him. If you don't it will
be the death of both of you."

I placed my hands flat to my sides to hide
the fact that they were trembling.

"I don't believe you. Me staying away from
Oliver isn't going to change Weasley. He'll still talk
to Oliver. Oliver will still turn him down."

"But, if you are out of the picture He'll have
no leverage. Oliver is a big boy and can take care
of himself, but not with you around."

"Oliver cares about other people. His gang."

"Not like you, Everlyn. Jason knew that and
he was a dumbass," Harper rolled his eyes
throwing his hands up in the air annoyed.

"I just got him back, Harper," I told him. I
could hear the strain in my voice, "I'm not letting
him go again."

I was mostly telling myself.
"You have to," he told me firmly.

"Why do you even care?" I breathed. My
chest was constricting. I felt as if I was going to
drop to the floor.

Harper frowned and turned his back on me.
I saw him run his hands through his hair.
"I'm sorry for hitting you," he muttered
guiltily.
My shoulders sagged. Why do I feel so
freakin sorry for him?
"Why don't you just join Oliver? You know
he'll take you in a heartbeat."
Harper was silent.
"Because no one escapes my father," he
said so softly I almost didn't hear it.

Walking around him, I stood in front of
him. His blackened eyes were shining in the light
as if he might cry.

Sighing, I touched his arm. He recoiled.

"I just...I wanted to say sorry for the way I
acted. You better go check on your friend," he
pushed pass me to the door unlocking it and pulling
it open.

I followed him into the hall. Fast as
lightening Harper was on the ground with little
Taylor on top of him.

"You stupid mother fucker," she snarled
punching the hell out of him.
Harper was in shock and just laid there.

"Taylor!" I exclaimed standing back staring
wide eyed at the small girl beating the boy twice
her size.

Harper finally coming out of his daze
flipped her over to the ground holding her down.
"Get off her!" I demanded grabbing the
back of his shirt throwing him off.

I might feel sorry for Harper but I sure as
hell didn't trust him. Taylor pushed up off the
ground about to go after him again when I grabbed
her.

"Did this piece of shit hurt you?" she
questioned glaring daggers at Harper who scowled
back at her.

"Don't look at her like that. You punched
her," I told Harper.
"Whatever," he scoffed stalking off.
"I don't think so," Taylor went to go after
him.
"No, Taylor. Let him go," I shook my head.
"Ever!"
"Really trust me."
"He punched me!"
"I know. I'm sorry just please," I pleaded.

Taylor's face was burning red and I swear I
seen smoke coming out of her ears but she stopped
struggling and we watched Harper storm down the
hall and around the corner.

"Tell me everything, now."

I sighed looking at her.
"Hey guys, where the hell have you been?"
Kimmy questioned coming around the corner.
Taylor opened her mouth but I cut her off.

"Sorry, we went down to the...arcade room
and just poked our head in for a second," I lied
throwing my thumb over my shoulder in the
direction I knew the arcade room was.

Taylor had her mouth in a firm line not
saying a word.

"Ohhh, yeah I forgot about that. We should
go in there. Alex won't let me play dance-dance
revolution anymore at home. Thinks I'll jiggle the
baby too much," Kimmy rolled her eyes moving
passed us toward the arcade. Lauren and Angie
followed and Taylor and I shuffled behind them.

"Trust me," I told Taylor softly glancing
over at her.

She had her arms crossed. Glancing up at
me for a moment, she gave a stiff nod and caught
up with Angie.

"Why do you have a knot on your head,"
Angie questioned poking it.
Taylor swatted her hand away.
"Ever let go of the bathroom door in my
face."
"I didn't know it didn't have a spring," I
teased half-heartedly.
"No wonder you're all crabby," Angie
nudged Taylor with her elbow.
"Yeah," Taylor muttered.
~The Truth About Love~

I was sitting on Oliver's bed in one of his
shirts. He was in the bathroom taking a shower. he
had just had sex but I think he knew something was
wrong. My heart had been in it but my mind was
far away. Harper’s words were playing repeatedly
in my head.

Oliver stepped out of the bathroom drying
his hair. He was completely naked.
I laughed, "What if someone comes in?"
"Well, they should knock. I've told them
enough times they should know better by now," he
smirked dropping down on the bed.

Laying his head in my lap, I stroked his hair
my fingers tracing over his cheekbones and jaw.
He shut his eyes sighing in content.

"Why do you have to go to the warehouse?
Can't you just stay here with me for a little while?"
I questioned.

His eyes opened slowly to look up at me.
Lifting his hand, he ran his thumb over my lips
cupping my face.

"You know there is a lot of stuff going on
baby girl," he spoke gently.
"I know," my voice was tight. He had no
idea how big this really was.

Propping himself up he faced me
completely. Brushing my hair back, he rested his
hand on my neck.

"What's wrong? You've been on the verge
of tears since you got home," he told me in a
serious tone even though it was soft.

I shook my head, "I just want to spend time
with you," I replied honestly.

I wanted to spend every moment with him
before I decided on what to do. Do I tell him
everything Harper told me? Do we try to work this
out together? Or do I stay away from him and hope
he stayed safe?

"Ever, you can't lie to me," he whispered
pulling my face to him and kissing my lips sweetly.
I cherished the taste of him. His spearmint tooth
paste lingered in my mouth even as he pulled back.

"There was a rapid knock on the door.”
Oliver, we're heading out," Leon called.
"You two quit having sex and get out here,"
Jake yelled from farther down the hall.
"And, don't say you weren't we could hear
your bed bouncing off the wall," he added.
My face darkened, "Go kick him for me," I
told Oliver frowning.

Sighing Oliver stood up grabbing his
clothes and putting them on. After putting on his
shoes, he turned back to me. Reaching over the
bed, he grabbed me scooping me up in his arms.
Wrapping his arms tight around me, he held me to
his chest and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered my throat
constricting with tears. I forced them down.

Tilting my head up he kissed me again. "I
wouldn't leave you like this if it wasn't important.
You know that right?"

"It's ok."
"No it's not."
We were silent.
"I will be back as quickly as possible. Don't
you dare go anywhere."

I bite my lip nodding. With another sigh, he
laid me back on the bed covering me up. Placing a
kiss on my forehead he went to the door pausing
her looked back at me. He didn't want to leave at
all I could see it.

"Go sweetheart," I told him, "I'll be here I
promise."

With a nod, he left. After a few moments, I
heard them leave and that’s when the tears started.
Our life was never going to be normal as long as
Oliver was leader of the gang. I knew that a while
back but I just wish so bad things could be normal,
our normal. No violence, no death, and most of all
no heartache.

Twenty minutes after Oliver left and I was
in the bathroom throwing up violently. There was a
knock on the bedroom door.

"Ever?" Kimmy called.
"I'm fine," I hollered.

Dipping my hands into the sink full of
water, I splashed it on my face. I felt ill. Deathly
ill.

"Stress," I muttered angrily to myself.

My nerves have been on edge ever since I
got home, it's freakin obvious my body would start
protesting.

There was another knock on the door. "I
said I'm fine Kimmy," I called.

After a few moments, I hear the bedroom
door open and shut then Taylor appeared in the
door way of the bathroom.

"I shouldn't be surprised you know how to
pick a lock," I told her.

She pursed her lips at my tone. I ha
dn’t
meant to come off rude but right now, I just wasn't
in the mood to talk. Saying nothing, she hopped up
on the counter staring at me concerned.

"I'm fine," I told her sinking down into the
floor crossing my legs.
"You don't look fine, Ever," she finally
spoke.
"I know you want to talk about what's going
on. What happened with Harper today...but I'm not
in the mood to be socialable."

"I think you need to be," she snapped,
"Everlyn, I might not have known you long but I
damn well care about you. You look like a fucking
walking skeleton. I said it. No one else will, they
tip toe around you like you are made of glass but I
am going to be flat out honest. I'm worried about
you."

I sat silent for a moment. Looking down at
myself, I didn't think I looked like a skeleton. If
anything my stomach was swollen with the amount
of food, I eat.

"You know I'd say you were anorexic but
you eat like a horse. I think something is wrong.
Health wise and I think you need to see a doctor.
I...I mean you got shot for crying out loud...and
you haven't gone back really," she told me.

I frowned at her words. Looking up at her, I
tried to figure out why her words seemed to strike
me wrong.

"Tell me what is going on with Harper
now?" she changed the topic.
"Not until you tell me what you are hiding."
Taylor looked at anything but me, "I can't,"
she muttered.
"Taylor, you're blatantly honest about
everything. Why not tell me what you are hiding?"

"You are
the one that’s good at keeping
secrets. Ones that get people hurt," she frowned,
“You are the one who needs to be spilling your
guts.”

Her eyebrows arched together in a
stubborn way. If I weren’t so annoyed, I'd think it
was comical.

"I'm trying to protect...people....it's best you
don't know," I sighed running both my hands
through my hair I just wanted to rip it out and
scream at the top of my lungs. I wanted to hit
something. To lash out. Every emotion in me was
just bottled up and screaming for release.

"Remember what happened last time you
wanted to protect people," she pressed.
"Taylor!" I groaned in frustration.

I know what happened last time. Kimmy
and Alex got hurt. Jet almost died. Oliver almost
went to prison. Yeah I fucked up. How do I know
this will be the same? How do I know that if I tell
Oliver he won't run over and try to attack Weasley
and that could get him killed?

"Ever, I'm begging you. Tell me what is
going on?" Taylor sighed in exasperation.
I shook my head. I couldn't.
You're an idiot,
my brain screamed.

But if it meant Oliver safe then I had to stay
away from him. I am his weakness, his love for me
with be the death of him if I don't stop it. Tears
threatened to boil over again but I held them in.

Taylor sighed in defeat, "Whatever you are
going to do...just don't," she told me standing.
"No wait," I jumped up stopping her, "What
is it you're not telling me?"